Union City’s first mayor remembered in ceremony

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Barbara Uhlig shares a happy memory of her father Tom Kitayama, former mayor of Union City, during funeral service held in Fremont, California at Harbor Light Christian Church, on Saturday June 16, 2007. (Anda Chu/The Fremont Argus)

FREMONT — Hundreds of family, friends and former colleagues gathered in Fremont on Saturday to remember and honor Tom Kitayama, Union City’s first and longest-serving mayor.

Kitayama’s family and friends, including current Union City mayor Mark Green, shared stories about the friendly, talkative and dedicated public servant, who died on June 5 at age 83.

“It was wonderful,” said his wife, Heidi Kitayama, of the ceremony. “It was just the way my husband would have loved to have it.”

The funeral service, held at Harbor Light Church, was a chance to share stories about Kitayama as a father, friend and mayor.

Kitayama’s daughter, Monica Cathcart, talked about how her parents helped her rent a cabin for her and her husband on their honeymoon; they were supposed to split the nights, but instead all four of them ended up staying together for a night.

“In a Lion’s Club meeting the next week, a member said, ‘We heard someone spent the weekend with their daughter on her honeymoon,’ My father then said, ‘Who would do a thing like that?'” Cathcart said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.

“It was really nice to see all the people come out and show their love for my father,” Cathcart said.

David Kitayama told a story of the time his father gave him advice at a swim meet, even though he didn’t know how to swim.

“He told me, ‘Swim faster.'” Kitayama said.

Green said Kitayama was the “George Washington of Union City” because he helped found the city and presided over it.

Green was one of several to mention the story of Kitayama’s mother originally not wanting him to run for city council in 1959 for fear of embarrassing the family. She didn’t think a Japanese-American could win only a decade after World War II, but when her son did, she said, “only in America.”

Kitayama was first mayor in 1959, when Union City was a small town of 5,000. By the time he retired in 1991, it had grown to about 50,000 people. Between 1959 to 1971, Kitayama and other council members rotated as mayor. Then in 1974, he was the city’s first elected mayor, where he remained until retiring in 1991.

Union City Public Works Director Larry Cheeves remembered when Kitayama and about 40 city representatives were in Philadelphia for the 1999 All-American City contest. Union City was one of 50 finalists, and Cheeves remembered Kitayama lifted from his wheelchair onto his feet when Union City won.

“He was beaming with happiness,” Cheeves said. “There was no one better to accept the award.”

About 25 floral decorations at the front of the church served as a reminder of Kitayama’s successful floral business, which he started with his brothers.

“He really loved the flower business,” said Tim Matsuno, who works in the Kitayama Brothers business. “He wanted his family in it, his kids in it, he was very proud of his family’s contribution.”

The burial will be held tomorrow for family members only.

“I’ve been really blessed,” said Heidi Kitayama. “My husband has done so much, not just in public service but for my family.